The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Central and State governments to file their counter-affidavits on a public interest litigation petition filed by an AIADMK cadre seeking a probe into the “mysterious” death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The petitioner, P.A. Joseph, prayed the court to appoint a committee comprising retired Supreme Court judges to probe her death.
However, appalled at several PILs being filed on the same issue, the First Bench of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M. Sundar wondered whether the health details of Jayalalithaa should be made public, merely because she occupied a public office. It posted the petition to February 23 for the Central and the State governments to file their respective counter affidavits.
On December 29, a Vacation Bench of the High Court observed that the government had failed to clear the doubts even after the death of the former Chief Minister and questioned the authorities whether her body should be exhumed to ascertain the truth.
When the PIL was taken up for hearing by the First Bench on Monday, senior counsel K.M. Vijayan who appeared for the petitioner said, “People were worried about the secrecy surrounding Jayalalithaa’s death. There were doubts that her leg was amputated during treatment prior to her death. Except the statements issued by the hospital, the government did not release any details of Jayalalithaa's health condition.”
Questioning the basis of his contention, the Bench said, “Everything is over and now there is no need to feel worried.”
Discharge summary
Denying the allegations of any “mystery” in the death of Jayalalithaa, senior advocate P.S. Raman, who represented Apollo Hospitals, where she was treated, said, a complete discharge summary of Jayalalithaa was ready with the hospital, and they were ready to place it in the court.
Meanwhile, refusing to admit a similar PIL moved by activist ‘Traffic’ K.R. Ramaswamy, the Bench dismissed his plea as not maintainable.
“We see no purpose in entertaining a spate of petitions on the same cause... It is rather peculiar that the petitioner who has been a standing opponent to the late chief minister feel so concerned about her demise,” the court said.
